From my perspective as an Oleander, a major relocation is a significant shock to my system. My roots are my entire world, anchoring me and gathering water and nutrients. To prepare me for this stressful event, deep watering one to two days before the move is crucial. This hydrates my cells fully, making my tissues more resilient and ensuring the root ball holds together better. Please also note that every part of me is highly toxic. You must wear gloves, long sleeves, and eye protection when handling me to avoid severe irritation from my sap.
The goal is to preserve as much of my root system as possible while making me transportable. Begin by digging a trench in a wide circle around my main trunk; the diameter should be roughly one-third of my current height. This is my designated root zone. As you dig down, you will encounter my vital structural roots. Make clean cuts with sharp tools—ragged tears are portals for disease. My roots prefer to be contained within a firm, moist ball of soil. Once I am free from the ground, carefully wrap the root ball in burlap or place me in a container to prevent the soil from disintegrating and my delicate feeder roots from desiccating.
My survival depends heavily on the conditions of my new location. I am a sun-worshipper and require a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight daily to fuel my flowering and growth. The soil must be well-draining; I cannot tolerate "wet feet" as my roots will quickly rot in soggy, oxygen-deprived earth. Please dig the new planting hole two to three times wider than my root ball, but no deeper. It is imperative that I am planted at the exact same depth I was growing before. Settling too deep will suffocate my crown and lead to fatal stem rot. Amending the backfill soil with some compost will help welcome my roots to their new environment.
Place me gently into the center of the new hole, ensuring I am straight and at the correct depth. Backfill the hole halfway, then water thoroughly to settle the soil and eliminate any large air pockets that would dry out my roots. Once the water has drained, continue backfilling to ground level. Create a shallow berm or basin of soil around the planting hole's perimeter to direct water toward my root zone. Water me deeply once more. Applying a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch around my base (but not touching my trunk) is immensely beneficial. It will conserve moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds while I focus my energy on regeneration.
The weeks following the transplant are my most vulnerable period. Consistent moisture is my lifeline. Water me deeply whenever the top few inches of soil feel dry, encouraging my roots to grow outward into the surrounding soil. However, avoid constant saturation. You may notice some leaf wilt or drop; this is a normal reaction as I divert resources from my canopy to rebuild my root system. Please resist the urge to fertilize me now. My tender new roots are easily burned by fertilizers, and my priority is root establishment, not top growth. With careful aftercare, I will soon settle in and reward you with my vibrant, resilient beauty for years to come.
